LLM in U.S. Law

More than theory

Our professors are some of the nation’s most respected scholars, teachers, and practitioners, and they deliver an engaging and deeply critical style to legal questions. Your classes also will bring a practical perspective to the learning experience. You will learn drafting, problem-solving, dispute resolution techniques, and other tools of the craft of lawyering. Your classroom work is supplemented by real-life opportunities through our clinics, externship program, and membership in some of our top-rated journals. Students engage in serious inquiry and debate through our centers and institutes. LL.M. students are part of the Student Bar Association and are encouraged to take part in any of our student organizations.

Online

The new online LLM program in U.S. Law will be delivered through a mix of synchronous and asynchronous teaching. Mandatory synchronous classes will take place in the morning, New York time.

Students in the online LLM program in U.S. Law receive the same outstanding instruction as Fordham’s renowned in-person LLM program. Now, wherever you live and work, you can take advantage of our distinguished faculty, unparalleled global network, and remote library services, and online databases.

Program flexibility

Fordham Law’s online LLM program is designed to accommodate your busy personal and professional schedule. We offer fall and spring start dates as well as part-time and full-time study options. The fall semester runs from August—December and the spring semester runs from January—May.

Credit requirements

Each student is required to complete a minimum of 24 credits of approved courses. Full-time students take 10 or more credits per semester and complete the program in two semesters. Part-time students may take up to seven semesters to complete the program.

Eligibility

Graduates of any recognized foreign law school, law faculty, or law department are eligible to apply. An undergraduate degree in law (such as an LLB) is sufficient.

No New York Bar Examination Eligibility: Please note that this degree does not lead to eligibility to sit for the New York bar examination. In order to be eligible for the bar, students must complete the on-campus LLM degree. We make no representations about eligibility to sit for any other bar examination.

Transfer to In-Person Program: Students may transfer between the online and in-person LLM. programs. Please note that in order to be eligible to sit for the New York Bar Examination, most LLM students will need two semesters fully in person.

Campus events and services

Throughout the academic year, Fordham Law will host online academic enrichment and professionalism events to which all online LLM students are welcome.

Students taking courses exclusively online are not eligible to join journals or clinics and do not have access to individualized services offered by our Graduate Professional Development Program.

On-campus

Credit hours

Each student is required to complete a minimum of 24 credits of approved courses; the maximum number of credits permitted is 30.

Full-time students take 10-15 credits per semester (11-13 recommended); part-time students take 2-9 credits per semester and must complete the program within 24 months of starting. Up to 4 credits may be taken during summer terms.

Program-specific required courses

All LL.M. students are required to complete the following course:

• Quantitative Methods for Graduate Students (required in the first semester of study)*

All LL.M. students who do not hold a J.D. from a U.S. law school are additionally required to take the following courses:

• Introduction to the U.S. Legal System and Process (required in the first semester of study)**
• Legal Writing and Research for LLM Students (required in the first semester of study)**
• Introduction to the U.S. Legal Profession***+
• At least 6 credits of Content Outline courses***
• Fundamental Lawyering Skills for LLM Students****
• 2 credits of experiential coursework****

Students are required to take Introduction to the U.S. Legal System and Process and Legal Writing and Research for LLM Students during their first semester of study in the LLM program.

Note: If a course fulfills both a Specialization Distribution Course requirement and a Content Outline requirement, the course may count toward both requirements. For example, Corporations (4 credits) counts towards the Specialization Distribution Course requirement and also counts toward the Content Outline requirement.

* Students who completed a similar course in their prior studies, or who have significant business, tax, or other experience that provides them with sufficient knowledge of this topic may seek a waiver by submitting the Request for Waiver from LL.M./M.S.L. Program Requirement​s​ form. Late registrants who are unable to register due to enrollment limits must take this course in their second semester of study.

**Students who are admitted to the New York bar may seek waivers from Introduction to the U.S. Legal System and Process and/or Legal Writing and Research for LLM Students by submitting the online Request for Waiver from LL.M./M.S.L. Program Requirement​s​ form. However, they are not encouraged to do so as these courses provide a fundamental base of knowledge and skills that are extremely useful for attorneys in the U.S. and that will be useful for all other U.S. law school classes.

*** Students who are admitted to the New York bar or who do not intend to sit for the New York bar may seek a waiver from Introduction to the U.S. Legal Profession and/or the Content Outline course requirement by submitting the online Request for Waiver from LL.M./M.S.L. Program Requirement​s​ form.

**** These courses are required for students following "Pathway 1" of the New York Court of Appeals §520.18 Skills Competency Requirement for Admission. (These requirements do not apply to students who began their studies prior to Fall 2018, and can be waived for the following students who begin their studies in fall 2018 or later: (1) Students who are already admitted to the New York bar (or who do not plan to sit for the New York bar examination); (2) Those who are authorized to practice law in another U.S. jurisdiction or any other country outside of the U.S. and can establish that they have been in good standing and practiced law in that jurisdiction full-time for at least one year (or half-time for two years).

+In lieu of Introduction to the U.S. Legal Profession and Process, students may substitute a three-credit Professional Responsibility course, including those courses that are focused on a particular area of practice.

Remaining Credits

The remaining credits required for graduation in the U.S. Law program may be earned from among the wide range of courses open to LLM students, as indicated on the class schedule(s) posted on the Registrar's page; however, students enrolled in this program may not earn credits in more than one course related to international law (e.g., International Business Transactions, International Human Rights, International Trade Law, etc.) without prior written approval. Students may seek such approval by submitting a request using the online waiver request form. For most classes that are closed to LLMs, students may be admitted on a space-available basis by submitting the Request to Enroll in a Closed Course form.

Our Community is Invested in Your Success

Enroll in the LL.M. program at Fordham Law and become part of a community invested in your success. The moment you join Fordham Law, you become part of a welcoming family that includes the LL.M. program leadership, your professors, your classmates (who typically come from more than 40 countries), and the more than 21,000 Fordham Law alumni who work across the globe.

This is more than a community—it is a network that connects you with opportunities and advances your interests and goals.

Flexibility to Accommodate Your Busy Schedule and Diverse Interests

We understand that it may be difficult to find the time to pursue your graduate legal education. That is why we offer part-time and full-time divisions and offer the option of beginning your studies in the fall (August) or spring (January) semester. We also offer the professional track LL.M., which enables students to return to their home country in between semesters for work or other obligations.

Our nine areas of specialization allow each student to pursue her or his path and gain knowledge and expertise in today’s most dynamic areas of law. Those who take advantage of our dual concentration option receive their LL.M. degree in any two areas of specialization. We also offer a fully online LL.M. program in U.S. Law or Corporate Compliance, which can be taken on a part-time or full-time basis starting either in January or August. Our online LL.M. degree in Corporate Compliance has the additional option of starting in May.

Gain Eligibility to Sit for the New York Bar Exam

Most of our international LL.M. students use our in-person LL.M. program to gain eligibility to sit for the New York bar examination.

Individualized Career Guidance

For our in-person students, our Graduate Professional Development Program (GPDP) helps students navigate their careers by offering individualized guidance in defining their professional goals and moving toward them. Fordham Law is one of a select number of U.S. law schools that take part in the International Student Interview Program, a major job fair in New York City for LL.M. students that attracts over 160 employers from top law firms each year.